Team Nerd Tech Show With Tim Gillen

On this week's episode, we're first sharing a warning sent in via a listener; don't pirate TV shows! Game of Thrones episodes are especially malicious lately, and security watchdogs sites are reporting more malware embedded in pirated shows than normal.  Then, Ruth and Tim talk about the 'dirty secret' of electric cars, the pros and cons of going electric in the first place, and what the future of electric cars can mean for your business. 

This week, we're talking about how dark mode can save your battery life, DuckDuckGo as the revolutionary new search engine (that doesn't mine your data while they're at it) and, now that Facebook has asked the government for more regulations, as opposed to taking the opposite stance just one year ago, we talk about what the difference is between a platform and a publisher, where the Big 3 in tech fall, and whether or not we think regulations are a good thing. (hint: the answer's a bit nuanced)

This week on TNTS, we're talking about what Tim really means when he says "wipe" a hard drive, after a few listeners reached out asking for clarification. How exactly is this done? what should you look out for? And he talks about the best website for wiping, shredding, dismantling your files.  We also discuss a new facial recognition software some stores are using to spot shoplifters and other criminals from entering their store. These facial recognition companies claim they are just keeping us safe, but it feels very Big Brother to us, and we talk about why that is.  Later, we talk about Domino's new "car app", which will allow you to order a pizza straight from your car. Ruthy uses an app to order her morning Dunkin Donuts while walking to work, so is this different? Or is it a little weird and commodifying if it's in your car?  All this and more in this week's Team Nerd Tech Show!

On this week's show, Tim is joined by the Team Nerd Tech Show producer, Ruthy, who has a question submitted by a listener, Mike. Mike wants to know: how do you know if an app, piece of software, or other download is "bad" or not?  Third-party malicious software can easily fool you into thinking it's "clean", but Tim has a few tricks that will help you figure out whether that app is going to help you - or infect your tech.    We also talk the Facebook/Whatsapp/Instagram outage from last week and how it affected companies around the world, a self-destroying file-sharing service from Mozilla, gadget grab bags, and more.     For details and to see all the links we discuss in this week's show, head to teamnerdtechshow.com

Links used this week:  Mozilla’s self-destructing file-sharing service exits beta 23andMe adds new genetic test for type 2 diabetes predisposition Georgia county paid $400K to ransomware hackers TikTok fined for violating children's privacy laws New privacy bill would give parents an ‘Eraser Button’ and ban ads targeting children Harnessing the sun in coal country

In this week's episode, Tim Gillen of Terrapin Networks discusses FedEx's new delivery robots (will they work?), Apple replacing batteries in their phones for users, the passing of Jerry Merriman who was the inventor of the handheld calculator, the "Hippo Roller" that is revolutionizing water transportation in developing countries, and using cell phones in cars. 

On this week's episode of the Team Nerd Tech Show, we're breaking down all the tech myths you may have heard over the years, and debunking them, one by one. Does a camera phone with more pixels mean better photos? Can cell phones make you lose your hair? How about battery life if you leave your phone charging overnight? You may be surprised at some of the answers! 

Think of your company data like putting a lock on your home. It's not convenient to put a lock on your door or an alarm on your home, but it protects that things that are important; your data is no different- and that starts with passwords and security. Today, we'll dive into the story of one company that didn't put the right protection in place and what happened when all the data they had was compromised- and what you can do to prevent the same thing from happening.  This week's links: Google spies on teens - for money - to find out their habits https://news.yahoo.com/google-offers-teenagers-amazon-vouchers-193556707.html https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/29/facebook-project-atlas/?guccounter=1 https://duckduckgo.com/ Laptops with the best battery life https://www.cnet.com/news/best-battery-life-laptops/ Automated Cocktail Maker (yes - a robot bartender!) https://www.cnet.com/reviews/barsys-automated-cocktail-maker-review/ Sonar drone discovers long-lost WWII aircraft carrier USS Hornet https://www.eng

Every office needs a 'team nerd'- the guy or gal who is invested in the office technology and works to keep it up and running; not someone who swoops in from time to time.  On this week's episode of the Team Nerd Tech Show, host Tim Gillen talks about why phishing attacks should scare the bejeesus out of any small business owner, and hat you can do to protect yourself from it happening, and what to do in case it does. 

Welcome to the first episode of the Team Nerd Tech Show with your host, Tim Gillen.  This week, Tim's talking all about why you need a "team nerd" on your small business team, plus why Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram may not be as innocuous and encrypted as you once thought.